Numbering-machine.



A. H. SMITH. NUMBBRING MACHINE.

APPLIGATIOH FILED JULY 15, 1913.

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Patgnted Mar. 30, 1915.

In v entor: 9W

4; Atty- THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTC-LITHOV, WASHINGTON. D. C

A. H. SMITH.

NUMBERING MACHINE.

IIIIIIIIIIIIII BID-JULY 15,1913.

1,133,510, Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

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f? k E 1W M4 I I l 1 i I I n l A l A. H. SMITH.

NUMBERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15. 1913.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

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H O t H e V D THE NORRIS PETERS C0,. FHOTC-LITHO.. WASHING mN. D. C.

Tnn sans PATENT Tron AMOS H. SMITH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

N UMBERING-MACHINE.

Application filed July 15, 1913.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, AMos H. SMITH, a citizen of the United Satates, residing in the borough of Bronx, in the city of New York, county of Bronx, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Numbering Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to numbering machines, and more particularly to atype of rotary machine and to the mechanism for advancing the digit wheels.

The main object of the invention is to provide a numbering machine wherein a plurality of laterally spaced heads may be used, and the digit wheel actuating mechanism may be operated in a manner to avoid a cutting of the impression roller, or platen, thus permitting any desired spacing of the heads without necessitating any change in said roller.

A further object is to provide a numbering machine wherein the digit wheels of all heads may be simultaneously advanced by the same mechanism, which mechanism will be so actuated as to prevent any movement of the digit wheels thereby excepting at certain predetermined intervals. i

A still further object is to provide an actuating means which may be adapted to any number of wheels or drums carrying the numbering heads, and to any number of said heads upon each wheel or drum.

A still further object is to provide an actuating means, the operative interval of which may be so timed as to advance the digit wheels after all of them have left the printing position. i

' i still further object is to provide a machine wherein the digit wheels if desired may be advanced more than once with each rotation thereof. And a still further object is to provide a machine of this character which will be simple in design, accurate in the timing of its movements, and capable of having the various numbering heads carried thereby actuated while the machine is running at high speed.

The invention consists primarily in a numbering machine embodying therein a Specification of Letters Patent.

'larly pointed out in the claims Patented Mar. 3t), 1915.

Serial No. 779,083.

rotary wheel or drum, adapted to have mounted thereon a numbering head, a rotary impression cylinder or platen, a numbering head embodying therein digit wheels and actuating means therefor, vibratory means within the printing surface of said digit wheels and rotatable about the same axis as said wheel or drum, and adapted to receive a timely actuation during each rotation thereof, connections between said vibratory means and said digit wheel actuating means, and actuating means for said vibrator means whereby said digit wheels will be advanced with each actuation thereof; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particuhereto appended.

Referring to the drawings :Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a numbering machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof with the impression or platen roller partly broken away; Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the drums or wheels of a single head, and the actuating means therefor, said actuating means being partly in section; and Fig. i is a detail view of the cam controlling the movements of said actuating means.

Like letters refer to like parts in all of the several views.

Heretofore, numbering machines have been used employing a plurality of rotary drums or wheels carrying a sequence of numbering heads, adapted to cooperate with a rotary impression cylinder or platen. In this type of machine, however, the actuating means for advancing the digit wheels embodied therein a plunger at one side of, and of a height greater than, the printing surface of said digit wheel, so that to avoid interference between this plunger and the impression cylinder it has been necessary to cut away portions of the impression cylinder to provide the proper clearance for the plunger head. This practice precludes the use of the same impression cylinder with different spacing adjustments of the wheels or drums, and the life of the cylinder itself is materially reduced.

By my present invention, I provide actu- I ating means for advancing the digit wheels,

contained entirely within the printing surface so that an impression cylinder of uniform diameter throughout maybe used, the circle described by this actuating means being of a diameter which will prevent engagement of any part thereof with said impression cylinder or platen.

As a further incident or development of the invention, I provide means whereby the digit wheels of all numbering heads upon each wheel or drum, and those upon different wheels or drums, will be simultaneously actuated from the same source, and while none of the numbering heads are in the printing position, or being inked.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings, 1 and 2 indicate side frames of the machine, in which is journaled a shaft 3, adapted to have a plurality of wheels or drums, 4c, 5 and 6 mounted. thereon. These drums are adjustable axially of the shaft 3, so as to permit that adjustment of the machine incidental to spacing the numbering heads carried by adjacent wheels or drums.

The impression cylinder or platen is indicated at 7 this cylinder, by reason of the particular form of digit wheel actuating means employed, being of the same diameter throughout. This impression cylinder is common to all numbering heads upon the machine, and by reason of its being a true cylinder, the wheels or drums l, 5 and 6 may be adjusted for lateral spacing without changing the impression cylinder, or modifying it in any way. Each of the wheels 4, 5 and 6 is adapted to have mounted thereon one or more numbering heads 8, the manner of mounting said heads being such as to permit their adjustment circumferentially of the wheel or drum to secure adjustment in the vertical spacing of the numbers.

While one or more such heads may be used, a plurality are usually mounted upon each drum so as to print in gangs. The detailed construction of these heads is immaterial to this invention, as any type of head may be used. The essential characteristics of said numbering heads are a plurality of digit wheels indicated at 9, and actuating means therefor indicated at 10, which means include therein, in the form of the numbering head shown in the draw-' ings, a reciprocatory spring pressed plunger 11, the reciprocations of which result in a step-by-step advancement of said digit wheels in arithmetical progression. It is not my intention, however, to limit myself to this particular type of numbering head, as such is not material to my invention.

The several numbering heads 8 are secured in proper position about the periphery of their wheels or drums, 1, 5 and 6, by

being attached in any desired manner to the base block 12, being secured in position upon the rim of the respective wheels or drums by means of the clamps 13 and 14. To accommodate these clamps, the rims of the wheels or drums, l, 5 and 6, are undercut, as shown more particularly in Fig. 3 This construction permits the circumferential adj ustment of the numbering heads to permit variances in the vertical spacing thereof in the manner heretofore referred to. Each numbering head in its construction and mode of operation is the counterpart of every other, and each drum is equipped with numbering heads, and operates, in the same manner as the others, so that a detailed description of the actuating mechanism for the numbering heads upon but a single wheel or drum will be entered into, it being understood that this mechanism is duplicated upon each other drum. Each of the numbering heads has mounted thereon a vibratory member, disposed below the printing surface of the digit wheels, which vibratory member is connected to the actuating mechanism of the numbering head in a manner to have the actuation of said vibratory member result in the advancement, progressively, of the digit wheels of said head. Means are provided, adapted to engage said vibratory member and actuate it one or more times during each rotation of the wheel or drum, said actuation occurring after the numbering head has left the printing position and before it has been inked prior to the next actuation thereof.

In practice, I prefer to simultaneously actuate the digit wheels of all numbering heads carried upon a wheel ordrum, a construction which necessitates the actuation of the mechanism controlling the movement of said vibratory means after all of the numbering heads have passed the printing position and prior to their being inked by the inking mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings, the vibratory member for imparting operative movement to the plunger 11 comprises a bell crank lever pivoted at 15, one arm 16 of which lever is connected by the slot and pivot connection 17 to said plunger, so that the oscillations of said lever will impart vibratory or reciprocatory movement to said plunger, and thus result in the advancement of the digit wheels. Said bell crank lever, it will be observed, rotates about the same aXis as the drum, but upon a radius shorter than that of the printing surface of the digit wheels, so that no portion of this lever of said plunger under the control of the lever and also afiords means whereby the lever may be utilized, if desired, in setting the actuating mechanism and positively operating same, in which last step it will be assisted by the spring action upon said plunger. To insure'the timely actuation of the said bell crank lever, I provide means as the annulus 19 slidably mounted upon and rotatable with its wheel or drum, which annulus carries a block 20, having a recess in which the arm 21 of said lever is pivotally seated. One said block is provided for each numbering head and said blocks are adjustably mounted upon said annulus by means of suitable screw studs 22, cooperating with screw threaded openings in said annulus, or in any other desired manner. This construction is provided to facilitate the adjustment of its actuating means to accord with the peripheral adjustment of a head. A portion of the periphery of said annulus is provided with gear teeth, 23, cooperating with which is a gear 24 adapted to be actuated by the crank arm 25, carrying an antifriction roller 26, which roller is adapted to move in the cam slot 27 and prevent movement of said arm during the greater portion of its rotation, and impart an oscillatory movement thereto at certain predetermined times to accomplish the actuation of the various numbering heads. The gear 24 and its arm 25 are carried by a rock shaft 28, mounted in the disks 29 and 30 carried adjacent the opposite ends of the shaft 3, and rotatable therewith. The gear 24- is ad ustable axially of the shaft 28.

To accomplish the simultaneous actuation of the numbering heads upon a plurality of wheels or drums, 4L, 5, and 6, I provide a plurality of gear wheels 24:, adapted respectively to cooperate with the annuli 19 upon the respective drums, each of said gears 24 being adjustable in the manner described to permit it to be shifted in accordance with the movement of the drums in setting them for lateral spacing. The cam slot 27 has a fall or falls, 31 therein in the position indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 1, so that as the lever 25 reaches this position, the shaft 28 will be rocked, causing all of the gears 24: to impart vibratory movement to the annulus 19 upon each drum, and therethrough actuate the bell crank levers adapted to transmit operative movement to the various digit wheels.

Under some conditions, it is desirable to provide means to actuate the digit wheels in a manner to skip certain numbers, and to accommodate the machine to such conditions, 1 preferably provide a plurality of such falls, with a rise 32 intermediate the same, the said rise being connected by a circular portion with the circular portion of the cam slot beyond the last fall, a block or blocks 33 adapted to be secured at the entrance of all said falls excepting the first being provided to permit the determination of the number of oscillations of said lever with each rotation thereof. These blocks 33 may be removed from the entrance to the falls, and placed in the connecting cam portion so as to switch the roller 26 and cause it to follow the falls. By this means, the machine may be set to actuate the numbering head once or a plurality of times with each rotation thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shogvln a conventional inking mechanism at The operation of the herein described numbering machine is substantially as follows z-A plurality of wheels or drums 4, 5 and 6 are mounted upon the shaft 3, and may be adjusted axially of said shaft to any desired extent to secure the desired lateral spacing of the numbering heads, being thereafter set by means of a key or in any other desired manner, upon said shaft to maintain them in this position. The desired number of numbering heads 8 is then clamped upon the periphery or rim of said wheels or drums by means of the base blocks 12, or in any other desired manner. The base blocks 12 may be adjusted circumferentially of the wheel or drum to secure the desired vertical spacing of the numbering heads, the blocks 12, after such adjustment of the numbering heads, being secured to the annulus 19, with the arm 21 of the bell crank lever seated in its bearing in said block. lVhen said numbering heads have been so mounted upon the machine, it is ready for operation, and power is supplied thereto, the numbering heads being successively inked and brought into the printing relation to the impression cylinder 7 lVhile the numbering head is being inked, and while in the printing position, the roller 26 upon the arm 25, being in advance of the first numbering head, will travel within the circular portion of the cam slot 27, concentric with the shaft 3, thus preventing movement of said arm. After the last numbering head has left the printing position, and before the first numbering head has reached the inking position, this roller will enter the first fall 31, thus oscillating the arm 25 and vibrating the annulus 19, imparting an oscillatory movement to the bell crank lever, and therethrough, a vibratory movement to the plunger 11, thus advancing each numbering head one digit, The lugs 14 be ing spaced apart, afford the necessary clearance for the arm 21 of the bell crank lever. It will be observed that this manner of acsharp impact between the actuating means for the numbering heads and a cooperating actuating means, the pitch of the fall being capable of being so regulated as to provide a graduated yet rapid movement to said arm 25. The various plungers are thus positively actuated, avoiding any possibility of their sticking, thus eliminating possibility ofv such a failure of the operating mechanism for the numbering head to operate as would result in the accidental duplication of numbers. The use of the rock shaft 28 and the plurality of gears 24 insures the simultaneous actuation of all numbering heads upon the machine.

If it be desired to skip, the block or blocks 33 are so set as to cause the arm 25 to follow a plurality of falls with intermediate rises, thus causing a plurality of oscillations of the shaft 28 and actuations of the various numbering heads.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the accompanying drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I believe it to be broadly new to provide means for actuating the numbering heads which means are all contained between the printing surface of the digit wheels and the axis of rotation of the wheels or drums, so as to avoid any necessity for cutting away the impression cylinder, and I intend to claim such broadly.

"I have shown in the accompanying drawings, and herein described, a particular mechanism by means of which my invention may be practised, but it is not my intention to limit myself to this particular mechanism, as it is apparent that there may be variations therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is

1. A numbering machine embodying therein a rotary wheel or drum, adapted to have mounted thereon a numbering head, a rotary impression cylinder or platen, a numbering head embodying therein digit wheels and actuating means therefor, vibratory means within the path of the printing surface of said digit wheels and rotatable about the same axis as said wheel or drum and adapted to receive a timely actuation during each rotation thereof, connections between said vibratory means and said digit wheel actuating means, and actuating means for said vibratory means whereby said digit wheels will be advanced with each actuation thereof.

2. A numbering machine embodying therein a rotary wheel or drum adapted to have mounted thereon a numbering head, a rotary impression cylinder or platen, a

numbering head embodying therein digit wheels and actuating means therefor, an oscillatory lever one arm of which is adapted to operatively engage said numbering head actuating means, said lever being mounted upon said numbering head and contained entirely within the pathof the printing surface of said digit wheels, and means whereby said lever is actuated during each rotation of said wheel or drum. 7

A numbering head embodying therein a rotary wheel or drum adapted to have mounted thereon a numbering head, a rotary impression cylinder or platen, a numbering head embodying therein digit wheels and actuating means therefor, a bell crank lever pivotally mounted upon said numbering.

head, one arm of said lever being operatively connected with said digit wheel actuating means, and the other arm thereof being directed inwardly toward the axis of said wheel or drum, vibratory means carried by said wheel or drum and operatively connected with said inwardly directed lever arm, and means for actuating said last named means with each rotation of said wheel or drum.

4. A numbering machine embodying therein a rotary wheel or drum, adapted to have mounted thereon a numbering head, a rotary impression cylinder or platen, a numbering head embodying therein digit wheels and actuating means therefor, vibratory means within the path of the printing surface of said digit wheels and rotatable about the same axis as said wheel or drum and adapted to receive a timely actuation during each rotation thereof, connections between said vibratory means and said digit whee]. actuating means, and actuating means for said vibratory means whereby said digit wheels will be advanced with each actuation thereof, .comprising a vibratory member carried by and rotatable with said wheel or drum, means adapted to impart vibratory movement thereto, also carried by said wheel or drum, and fixed meansadjacent said wheel or drum adapted to actuate said last named means during each rotation of said wheel or drum.

5. A numbering machine embodying therein a rotary wheel or drum adapted to have mounted thereon a plurality of numbering heads, a rotary impression cylinder or platen, a plurality of numbering heads embodying therein respectively, digit wheels and actuating means therefor, a plurality of vibratory means within the path of the printing surface of said digit wheels, and rotating about the same axis as said wheel or drum, and adapted to receive a timely act-nation during each rotation thereof, connections between said vibratory means respectively and the respective digit wheel actuating means, and actuating means common to all said vibratory means whereby said digit wheels of each numbering head will be simultaneously advanced with each actuation thereof.

6. A numbering machine embodying therein a rotary Wheel or drum adapted to have mounted thereon a plurality of numbering heads, a rotary impression cylinder or platen, a plurality of numbering heads embodying therein respectively, digit wheels and actuating means therefor, a plurality of vibratory means within the path of the printing surface of said digit wheels, and rotating about the same axis as said wheel or drum, and adapted to receive a timely actuation during each rotation thereof, connections between said vibratory means re spectively and the respective digit wheel actuating means, actuating means common to all said vibratory means whereby said digit wheels of each numbering head will be simultaneously advanced with each actuation thereof, and means whereby said numbering heads respectively, and said connections may be adjusted circumferentially of, and relatively to, said Wheel or drum and said last named means.

7. A numbering machine embodying therein a rotary wheel or drum, adapted to have mounted thereon a numbering head, a rotary impression cylinder or platen, a numbering head embodying therein digit wheels and actuating means therefor, vibratory means within the path of the printing surface of said digit wheels and rotatable about the same axis as said wheel or drum and adapted to receive a timely actuation during each rotation thereof, connections between said vibratory means and said digit wheel actuating means, actuating means for said vibratory means whereby said digit wheels will be advanced with each actuation thereof, and means whereby said last named means may be actuated a plurality of times during each rotation of said wheel or drum.

8. A numbering machine embodying therein a rotary wheel or drum adapted to have mounted thereon a plurality of numbering heads, a rotary impression cylinder or platen, a plurality of numbering heads embodying therein respectively, digit wheels and actuating means therefor, a plurality of vibratory means within the path of the printing surface of said digit wheels, and rotating about the same axis as said wheel or drum, and adapted to receive a timely actuation during each rotation thereof, connections between said vibratory means respectively and the respective digit wheel actuating means, actuating means common to all said vibratory means whereby said digit wheels of each numbering head will be simultaneously advanced with each actuation thereof, and means whereby said last named means may be actuated a plurality of times during each rotation of said wheel or drum.

9. A numbering machine embodying therein a rotary wheel or drum, adapted to have mounted thereon a numbering head, a rotary impression cylinder or platen, a numbering head embodying therein digit wheels and actuating means therefor, vibratory means within the path of the printing surface of said digit wheels and rotatable about the same axis as said wheel or drum and adapted to receive a timely actuation during each rotation thereof, connections between said vibratory means and said digit wheel actuating means, and actuating means for said vibratory means whereby said digit wheels will be advanced with each actuation thereof, comprising an annulus slidably mounted upon said wheel or drum, having a gear segment thereon, and adapted to actuate said vibratory means, a rock shaft rotatable with said wheel or drum, a gear mounted upon said shaft and in mesh with said gear segment upon said annulus, and means adapted to prevent movement of said shaft throughout aiportion of each rotation thereof and compel movement thereof prior to said numbering head coming to the inking position.

10. A numbering machine embodying therein a rotary wheel or drum, adapted to have mounted thereon a numbering head, a rotary impression cylinder or platen, a numbering head embodying therein digit wheels and actuating means therefor, vibratory means within the path of the print ing surface of said digit wheels and rotatable about the same axis as said wheel or drum and adapted to receive a timely actuation during each rotation thereof, connections between said vibratory means and said digit wheel actuating means, and actuating means for said vibratory means whereby said digit wheels will be advanced with each actuation thereof, comprising an annulus slidably mounted upon said wheel or drum, having a gear segment thereon, and adapted to actuate said vibratory means, a rock shaft rotatable with said wheel or drum, a gear mounted upon said shaft and in mesh with said gear segment upon said annulus, a fixed cam at one side of said wheel or drum, having a circular portion and a fall therein, and an arm carried by said rock shaft and controlled by said cam whereby said shaft is held against rotative movement through a portion of each rotation thereof, and is oscillated to actuate said numbering head prior to its coming to the inking position.

11. A numbering machine embodying therein a rotary wheel or drum, adapted to have mounted thereon a numbering head, a rotary impression cylinder or platen, a numbering head embodying therein digit wheels and actuating means therefor, vibratory means within the path of the printing surface of said digit wheels and rotatable about the same axis as said wheel or drum and adapted to receive atimely actuation during each rotation thereof, connec tions between said vibratory means and said digit wheel actuating means, and actuating means for said vibratory means whereby said digit wheels will be advanced with each actuation thereof, comprising an annulus slidably mounted upon said wheel or drum, having a gear segment thereon, and adapted to actuate said vibratory means, a rock shaft rotatable with said wheel or drum, a gear mounted upon said shaft and in mesh with said gear segment upon said annulus, a fixed cam at one side of said wheel or drum having a circular portion and a plurality of falls therein with intermediate rises, and a circular portion leading from the first rise to said first named circular portion, an arm carried by said rock shaft and controlled by said cam, and removable means to cause said arm to follow one or all of said falls, whereby said shaft is held against rotative movement through a portion of each rotation of said wheel or drum, and is oscillated one or more times to actuate said numbering head prior to its coming to the inking position.

, 12. A numbering machine embodying therein a rotary shaft, a plurality of wheels or drums carried thereby, each said wheel or drum being adapted to have a numbering head mounted thereon, a rotary impression cylinder of equal diameter throughout, common to all said wheels or drums, a numbering head, embodying therein digit wheels and actuating means therefor, mounted upon each said wheel or drum, a plurality of vibratory means each arranged within the path of the printing surface of said digit wheels of its head, and rotatable about the same axis as its wheel or drum, connections between each said vibratory means and its digit wheels actuating means, actuating means for said vibratory means respectively, one for each said wheel or drum, and means common to all said last named actuating means whereby the digit wheels of the numbering heads on all said wheels or drums will be simultaneously advanced.

13. A numbering machine embodying therein a rotary wheel or drum adapted to have mounted thereon a plurality of numbering heads, a rotary impression cylinder or platen, a plurality of numbering heads embodying therein respectively, digit wheels and actuating means therefor, a plurality of vibratory means within the path of the printing surface of said digit wheels, and rotating about the same axis as said wheel or drum, and adapted to receive a timely actuation during each rotation thereof, connections between said vibratory means respectively and the respective digit wheel actuating means, and actuating means common to all said vibratory means whereby said digit wheels of each numbering head will be simultaneously advanced with each actuation thereof, comprising an annulus slidably mounted upon said wheel or drum, having a gear segment thereon and adapted to actuate said vibratory means of each said numbering head, a rock shaft rotatable with said wheel or drum, a gear mounted upon said shaft and in mesh with said gear segment upon said annulus, and means adapted to prevent movement of said shaft throughout a portion of each rotation thereof, and compel movement thereof prior to said numbering head coming to the inking position.

14. A numbering machine embodying therein a rotary shaft, a plurality of wheels or drums carried thereby, each said wheel or drum being adapted to have a plurality of numbering heads mounted thereon, a rotary impression cylinder of equal diameter throughout, common to all said wheels or drums, a plurality of numbering heads, each embodying therein digit wheels and actuating means therefor, mounted upon each said wheel or drum, vibratory means carried by each said numbering head within the path of the printing surface of its digit wheels, connections between each said vibratory means and its digit wheel actuating means, actuating means carried by each wheel or drum and common to all numbering heads thereon, and means common to all said last named actuating means whereby the digit wheels of the numbering heads on all said wheels or drums will be simultaneously advanced.

15. A numbering machine embodying therein a rotary shaft, a plurality of wheels or drums carried thereby, each said wheel or drum being adapted to have a plurality of numbering heads mounted thereon, a rotary impression cylinder of equal diameter throughout, common to all said wheels or drums, a plurality of numbering heads, each embodying therein digit wheels and actuating means therefor, mounted upon each said wheel or drum, vibratory means carried by each said numbering head within the path of the printing surface of its digit wheels, connections between each said vibratory means and its digit wheel actuating means, actuating means carried by each wheel or drum and common to all numbering heads thereon, comprising an annulus, slidably mounted on its wheel or drum, having a gear segment thereon and being adapted to actuate all said vibratory members, a rock shaft common to and rotatable with all said wheels or drums,

my signature, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, this 14th day of July, 10

a plurality of gears mounted upon said shaft and in mesh respectively With a gear segment upon an annulus, and means adapted 1913.

to prevent movement of said shaft throughout a portion of each rotation thereof and AMOS SMITH compel movement thereof prior to said num- Witnesses:

bering head coming to the inln'ng position.

EUGENE ULNING, In Witness whereof I have hereunto affixed CLARICE FRANGK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, D. G. 

